The United States territory has climbed up one place to sit at 182nd and joins five other countries who are currently in their best-ever positions: Ecuador (20th, up 7), Libya (38th, up 1), Central African Republic (71st, up 2), Dominican Republic (118th, up 12) and Aruba (157th, up 7).
The other Oceania nations on the move are: Tahiti (136th, up 2), New Caledonia (141st, up 2), Fiji (155th, up 6), Vanuatu (156th, up 12), Solomon Islands (159th, up 15), Tonga (174th, up 1) and Papua New Guinea (186th, up 1).
The Oceania rankings are now as follows:
1. New Zealand
2. Tahiti
3. New Caledonia
4. Fiji
5. Vanuatu
6. Solomon Islands
7. Samoa
8. Tonga
9. American Samoa
10. Papua New Guinea
11. Cook Islands
Elsewhere in the world, South Sudan, who became FIFA’s 209th member at the 2012 Congress in Budapest, played their first official international in their capital city of Juba on July 10. Their much-heralded 2-2 draw with Uganda was worth 20 ranking points and sees the Southern Sudanese make their debut in 199th place.
At the global ladder’s summit, world and European champions Spain are still comfortable out in front, followed by Germany and England. The Three Lions have overtaken Uruguay, who are now in fourth place having lost points due to the devaluation of matches from last year’s Copa America.
The results of 12 matches have been taken into account for the current edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. More movement can be expected in the September edition, with the inclusion of the many friendlies due to be played on August 15.